612: Chris Simcox

Chris Simcox worked for Doug Ducey in the private sector. He ran against John McCain in the Arizona Republican primary. He argued McCain was not conservative enough. Simcox founded the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps to patrol the southern border. Initially, they claimed to only work to give Border Patrol evidence and tips for them to follow up. However, they radicalized, promised to go to the border “locked and loaded,” and like many grifting organizations raised money for a border wall they never built.

In 2005, Southern Poverty Law Center wrote about allegations of violence and sexual abuse. In 2010, he threatened to kill his ex-wife. In 2013, Simcox was arrested for sexually abusing two girls who were five and six at the time, one is his own daughter. He was offered a sweetheart deal of seven to ten years but rejected it. In 2015, in a wicked attempt to intimidate witnesses, he acted as his own attorney and demanded the right to personally cross examine the two girls. In 2016, Simcox was sentenced to 19.5 years for child molestation involving two girls under ten. He appealed his conviction and lost.

• Southern Poverty Law Center: Minuteman Civil Defense Corps leader Chris Simcox has a troubled past
  Phoenix New Times: Doug Ducey and the Stain of Simcox: Sources Say Accused Child Molester Chris Simcox Had Access to Families’ Home Movies while Working for iMemories
• Phoenix New Times Blogs: Accused Child Molester Chris Simcox, ex-Employee of Doug Ducey’s iMemories, Spurns Plea Offer, Wants to Go to Trial
• Phoenix New Times: Chris Simcox Wants to Personally Cross-Examine Child Victims in Upcoming Trial
• Arizona Central: Ex-Minuteman Chris Simcox sentenced to 19.5 years in child sex-abuse case